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The Senate is expected to vote later today on the House-passed measure to reopen the government, with a goal to amend the legislation to tack on three full-year appropriations measures as part of a proposal that’s come out of bipartisan talks in recent days aimed at ending the shutdown. But the GOP plan still faces headwinds, and may not earn enough support from Democrats to move forward Friday.
Although moderates involved in the bipartisan talks appeared optimistic about the prospects of reaching a deal earlier this week, which would also include a vote on a certain date on extending health insurance tax credits, conversations seemed to stall Thursday as Democrats met behind closed doors at a caucus meeting.
While some moderates have been eager to find a solution to reopen the government, others in the caucus appear emboldened by the party’s sweep in key races in Tuesday’s elections, pushing to hold out longer in the shutdown fight in an effort to achieve their health care demands. And House Speaker Mike Johnson’s refusal to commit Thursday to bringing up a vote on extending health insurance tax credits dealt a blow to Democrats who appeared to be warming to the proposal.
The planned vote on Friday, which is not yet scheduled, would require 60 votes to advance, meaning Republicans need at least five more Democrats to cross the aisle. Three senators have repeatedly broken with their party to vote in favor of advancing the House-passed measure. Republicans are hoping the moderate Democrats who have been in the negotiations all week will vote to at least advance the bill, with the expectation that it will be amended and include some longer-term funding.
At the Capitol, Thune commented on his expectations for Friday.
“My hopes and expectations are always that we’re going to have enough Democrats to actually proceed, but I don’t know, we’ll see,” the South Dakota Republican said. “They seem to be walking back or slow-walking this, and it’s what they asked for.”
